The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the allocation of $25.5 million in grants aimed at supporting drinking water systems in underserved, small, and disadvantaged communities while mitigating the impacts of climate change. This initiative marks the first round of funding under the Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability grant program.
Acting EPA Assistant Administrator Bruno Pigott highlighted the significance of this effort, stating, “Across the country, climate stress is often felt as water stress that can burden a community’s drinking water infrastructure.” He further emphasized that this new grant program, along with investments from the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will enhance national water infrastructure and safeguard public health.
Environmental justice and equity are central to EPA's initiatives, aligning with President Biden’s Justice40 Initiative by investing in communities historically facing environmental justice issues. The EPA expects to distribute these funds once legal and administrative requirements are met.
Among the 16 selected recipients are:
- Public Water Supply District #8 of Platte County (Missouri): $569,955 for replacing aging water mains and service lines.
- Ketchikan Gateway Borough (Alaska): $332,000 for installing generators to protect infrastructure from natural disasters.
- Saint Paul Island City (Alaska): $4,651,170 for emergency generators and infrastructure updates.
- Antelope Valley-East Kern (California): $559,760 for fuel trailers and a generator.
- City of Fresno (California): $3,700,214 for replacing failing water pipes.
- Indian Wells Valley (California): $2,790,000 for water supply enhancement efforts.
- St. Charles Mesa Water District (Colorado): $175,158 for installing a water line.
- Connecticut Department of Public Health: $556,000 for constructing an emergency water line and pumping station.
- City of Fargo (Georgia): $570,000 for constructing a well and operating system.
- City of Waitsburg (Washington): $570,000 for replacing water main lines.
- Clarksburg Water Board (West Virginia): $3,868,000 for installing mixing and aeration equipment in storage tanks.
- Executive Office of the Government of the Virgin Islands: $400,000 for data collection and modeling efforts.
- Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians: $331,769 for infrastructure improvements.
- Newtok Village (western Alaska): $5,255,974 for construction and relocation efforts.
- Northern Cheyenne Tribe: $570,000 for upgrading the water supply system.
- Swinomish Indian Tribal Community: $600,000 to develop an integrated water resources management plan.
The Drinking Water System Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability grant program was established under the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018 to improve drinking water quality and infrastructure investment.
